See how far emaciated dog has come since being rescued by Bergen volunteers

A monthlong journey of rehabilitation and perseverance started when one good Samaritan stumbled upon a dilapidated female dog in the Westside Park section of Paterson.

Maggie was a skeleton of a body covered with fleas and pressure sores. Her feet showed signs of being confined in a crate and her solid white nails indicated being soaked in urine.

Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge rescuers brought her to Country Willow Veterinary Hospital in Warwick, New York, on June 13 to recuperate and diagnose her condition. They determined she was a breeding dog who was neglected and discarded by the breeders, the whereabouts of her puppies unknown.

Since then, Ramapo-Bergen partnered with Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption in rescuing Maggie and eventually finding her a family.

Lauren DeNoma of Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption is 15 years into rescuing dogs and seeing many animals in life-threatening situations. She said Maggie is a sweet and loving dog despite her dark past.

"Sometimes they bounce back and sometimes it takes a long time," DeNoma said. "But this girl, she's a true survivor, and she has not met a person she doesn't love. It's incredible."

The biggest challenge Maggie has faced is gaining weight at a healthy pace, DeNoma said. Overfeeding an animal that was starved can cause the body to reject food, so the volunteers are mindful to give Maggie multiple small meals throughout the day.

When rescuers found her, she weighed a mere 28.6 pounds, while others like her breed should be about 48 pounds. Maggie is now at 36.4 pounds and working her way up.

DeNoma said Maggie also worked through possessiveness over food, such as a high-value bone that she would not let other people touch.

This Staffordshire mix is now at a foster home and is looking for the right family who can cater to her needs. Foster mom Gloria sometimes hand-feeds or uses a snuffle rug because she eats too fast.

DeNoma was invited to bring Maggie to Broadway Barks this weekend, an annual charity event to help adopt shelter animals in the New York City area. DeNoma said Maggie is a great ambassador for her breed, which often gets a negative stigma.

"You really can't judge a book by its cover for sure. It's really important when you look at a poor animal like this to have an open mind and give them enough time to decompress and show you who they are," DeNoma said.

The condition Maggie was in was unmistakably intentional and preventable, rescuers said. Both volunteer organizations are offering a $5,000 reward for any information about the original owners that could lead to an arrest.